Code of rights and obligations of hospitalized patients within the Brazilian National Health System (SUS): the daily hospital routine under discussion

Patients' rights constitute a mechanism for change in care and management within the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). The aim of this study was to present roundtable discussions concerning the rights and obligations of SUS patients within the hospital environment. This is a descriptive, exploratory study, conducted at two hospitals in Fortaleza, Ceará. Three roundtable discussions were held at each institution, involving 40 staff members from various professions and sectors. The debate was centered on the text of the Code of Rights and Obligations of SUS Patients in Ceará. The discourses were analyzed according to the content analysis method of Lawrence Bardin. Analysis led to the perception that consolidated norms made it difficult to put the rights into practice and the roundtable discussions broadened this critical view, promoting further insight. This was shown to be an important educational instrument for citizens' rights and for humanization of the healthcare process.